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about
CJ Stranger’s relentless exploration of songwriting continues with his new heartfelt alt-country ballad ‘In Your Life’. Fresh on the back of his critically acclaimed 2020 album ‘Hey Stranger’ CJ continues to draw us in with his lyrical depth and harmonic creativity. Describing his new single ‘In Your Life’ as “a song written for my baby son, it’s an honest fingerpicker about the joy of becoming a parent for the first time and the hopes for your child’s life mixed with the overwhelming weight of being responsible for raising a small human”…
‘In Your Life’ once again features CJ’s unabating lyrical style but this time trading his normal band for a small acoustic ensemble featuring guests Nick Henderson on double bass and Emily-Rose Sarkova on piano. Beautiful and somewhat unexpected chord changes help you feel each joyful hope mixed with honest reality of what life will entail: “happiness, heartaches, joys, many mistakes as well”. Just when you think the song is wrapping up CJ pulls out an evocative musical refrain reminiscent of Fleet Foxes with lush falsetto harmonies and Sarkova’s impressionistic piano improvisation. A reflective and emotional listen, CJ continues to impress with his constant explorations into song.
lyrics
Go to sleep my little one,
I'll see you in the morning,
Sleep until the light has come and a new day is dawning,
I remember the night we first brought you home,
you were so small and fragile,
Constant hands upon your sleeping chest,
Just to make sure you were still breathing,
In your life there'l be happiness, heartaches, joys,
but many mistakes as well,
Hope I'll always be there when the dark draws near,
won't you turn my way,
won't you turn my way,
7 months flies by so quick,
and your growing stronger,
chubby arms and that cheeky grin,
and the eyes of your mother,
I wanna protect you from everything,
but I know you must find your way,
I want to shield you from this broken world,
but what's learning without pain,
In your life there'l be happiness, heartaches, joys,
but many mistakes as well,
I won't always be there when the dark draws near,
won't you turn my way,
won't you turn my way,
won't you turn my way,
won't you turn my way,
credits
released April 16, 2021
Produced and mixed by Nick Henderson at Peppermint Grove Studios
Cam Henderson - vox/guitar
Nick Henderson - bass
Emily-Rose Sarkova - piano
Mastered by Craig Field at Elk Mastering
Photo by Anita Miles
CJ Stranger hones a unique sound and spirit for his new album, Hey Stranger.
A singer-
songwriter through and through, CJ Stranger's captivating voice, tell-all lyrics and natural feel for finger-picking walk together in perfect synchrony. Creative and honest, Hey Stranger is a rewarding listen that feels comfortingly familiar, yet new and exciting....more
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